Notice from Orlando Stroller Rentals about theft

[TwoRoos]

We're renting from Orlando Stroller Rentals in 6 days and received this notice on Tuesday (12th) from Shannon, the owner. I wanted to pass it along to anyone here who may be interested.

I am currently notifying all of our customers that strollers in Disney have been a target for thieves. Please do not leave any valuable personal items in the stroller while it is unattended. In addition, when you park the stroller, you may remove one of the rear wheels and take it with you (can be done easily by squeezing a button next to the wheel). This will make the stroller not so appealing to thieves. If your stroller is taken, please notify Disney security and us immediately. You may ask the closest cast member how to help you with this.


Our rental agreement states that the customer is responsible for the stroller while it is in their possession. Many customers have been inquiring about theft insurance. After listening to our customers' needs, we are now offering the opportunity to purchase damage and theft insurance. By purchasing the insurance for $25, the customer will not be charged the cost of replacing a stolen or damaged stroller. If you are interested in this, you may make your payment on our website under the tab “Rental Insurance.”



Have a great vacation!



Yours truly,

Shannon Tanner
Orlando Stroller Rentals, LLC
www.OrlandoStrollerRentals.com
OrlandoStrollers@att.net
800-281-0884

Just an FYI. I'm not there and don't have any personal knowledge of what's happening. I do believe her, though, when she says it's a problem. For us, we've decided to purchase the insurance.

 

[Chuck S]

I am assuming the insurance would not cover any personal items lost, but the stroller only.

Do strollers sometimes disappear? I'm sure they do. As to whether it is as widespread a problem as the notice implies, that is questionable.

Unless the insurance is actually a policy issued by an outside company, it is also possible that it is another way for the rental company to make another $25 per rental.

While I wouldn't like to be responsible for a stolen stroller, it does seem that removing a wheel, as suggested, would likely prevent any theft, or even using a cheap bike lock to somehow secure the stroller from rolling bur running the cable through the wheels, if the wheels have spokes, would save the cost of the insurance.

 

[trennr]

I never had any trouble having stuff stollen out of our stollers...nor a stroller?

Guess in these tough economic times even Mickey might resort to grand theft stroller.

Removing the wheel or using a bike lock may make it hard for cast members to rearrange strollers in the parking areas when needed.

 

[El&kris'mom]

I am renting a double stroller from them beginning Sunday 5/17 and have did not receive this notice. But if I am, I will probably include the insurance.

 

[Chuck S]

Removing the wheel or using a bike lock may make it hard for cast members to rearrange strollers in the parking areas when needed.

Not unless those strollers are very heavy. When you are able to use one of the complimentary wheelchairs from the resorts, they often include a chain and lock to thread through the spoked drive wheels. Usually those chairs are much heavier than any stroller, as they are designed for heavy use and bus transportation tie downs.

 

[LWatson]

Always make your stroller stand out. That's what we did. We tied something to the stroller to make it visible, and obvious that its ours (we did a special bandana w/ our name on it ziptied to it).

 

[Colleen27]

Unless the insurance is actually a policy issued by an outside company, it is also possible that it is another way for the rental company to make another $25 per rental.
.

That was the first thing I thought. I guess I'm just cynical, but given the lack of reports here on the DIS about stolen strollers, I'm thinking this is the rental company's way of boosting the bottom line a bit without raising rates.

 

[mareed]

That was the first thing I thought. I guess I'm just cynical, but given the lack of reports here on the DIS about stolen strollers, I'm thinking this is the rental company's way of boosting the bottom line a bit without raising rates.

I believe it's called self-insurance and it's perfectly legitimate for a company to insure themselves in this manner, so I wouldn't fault the company or necessarily think they're doing anything dishonest. We've rented some rental cars that have had a self-insurance declaration in the sun visor, and that is what would be shown as proof of insurance on the car in case of an accident. And this would have been with a major rental car company also, but I don't recall which one it was.

 

[wdw71]

I got the email as well and I purchased the insurance simply because I do not want to have to pull a wheel off and carry it with me along with all the other stuff we will be carrying. I also do not want to replace a $400 (or there about) stroller. All worth $25 to me.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

okay, I am not renting from them but did purchase a city mini stroller for our upcoming trip in Aug. I told DH about the suggestion to pop off the wheel to prevent theft. His reply-- now the person taking the stroller just has to find another stroller of the same kind and pop that wheel on in the missing wheel spot. Aaah the results from being married to a police officer

We have traveled 8 times to the disney and haven't encounter any stroller issues. We always bring our stuff with us when going on rides. I am nervous about the what if's but try not to dwell on it too much.

DH is just thinking like a bad guy!

 

[Chuck S]

Rental cars HAVE to have a declartion of insurance, in case of damage to someone else's property or health. They have to have liability coverage to cover "the other guy", whether the person driving does or not, since they are the owner of the car.

However, when I was doing bookeeping for a local video store, the store could not offer a 25 cent optional insurance to replace the tapes in case of damage, without creating a separate account to receive those fees, according to a letter we received from our insurance board. If it is marketed as "insurance," at least in our state, you are subject to restrictions.

It really depends upon the state.

 

[Manda]

I'm wondering if the stroller rental tag/sign they put on their strollers actually increases the likelihood of theft (or at least "borrowing" it for the day and then abandoning it?). People swipe the rented Disney rental strollers frequently (apparently) and I think the kind of person who might swipe a stroller might kinda feel like it's a victimless crime by stealing someone's rental vs. someone's actual stroller from home. Does that make any sense?

Although, I must admit that having to buy them a new stroller if the one I rented was stolen was one of my major concerns with Orlando Stroller Rentals.

 

[wdw71]

I'm wondering if the stroller rental tag/sign they put on their strollers actually increases the likelihood of theft (or at least "borrowing" it for the day and then abandoning it?). People swipe the rented Disney rental strollers frequently (apparently) and I think the kind of person who might swipe a stroller might kinda feel like it's a victimless crime by stealing someone's rental vs. someone's actual stroller from home. Does that make any sense?

Good Point, I was wondering if the tag they put on the stroller is difficult to remove. If it were to get stolen can it just be ripped off or would they have to cut it off?

 

[TwoRoos]

Good Point, I was wondering if the tag they put on the stroller is difficult to remove. If it were to get stolen can it just be ripped off or would they have to cut it off?

If you're talking about OSR, the tag would have to be cut off. It's a laminated sign that is zip tied to a bar at the bottom of the stroller.

 

[TwoRoos]

I got the email as well and I purchased the insurance simply because I do not want to have to pull a wheel off and carry it with me along with all the other stuff we will be carrying. I also do not want to replace a $400 (or there about) stroller. All worth $25 to me.

OP here. I totally agree with this. This is why we are also purchasing the insurance.

Shannon's email said that she has received a lot of customer requests for this insurance. I believe that is why it is now an option. I truly don't think that she's trying to just milk us for more money. I think the chances of the entire stroller getting stolen never to be found again are probably slim, but it was something I was sorta concerned about when we rented from her last time. I appreciate having this option because it puts my mind at ease, but I can also understand why some would not think it important or necessary. To each his own.

 

[sau418]

One other thing to consider with OSR adding this insurance is the issue with increased wear and tear on the strollers.

We are not renting from them, but do have a stroller identical to the one that they are renting. Our solution was a hard plastic tag (listing our last name and cell phone numbers on one side and resort name on the other side) zip tied to the handle and a second one zip tied on the frame near the basket (these would need to be cut off). We are also using a ribbon with our name on it tied to the handle.

In these times I am sure there is some stroller "borrowing" going on, but it has not been well publicized and I am sure if it were a big problem that we would have heard about it more here on the boards. Alot of what we are hearing is the what if scenerios.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Now you all have me worried! lol.... Im bringing my own umbrella stroller with us --- are we talking about the rental ones only being stolen? Or have peoples personal ones been taken as well? I have a 2yr old and I would really be SOL if it got taken!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ireland_nicole]

Someone started a similar thread yesterday from another company about this. At the time, I was skeptical, but having rented from Shannon in the past, I would definitely trust her... hmmmm, I wonder if there is more to this?

 

[El&kris'mom]

I contacted Orlando Stollers after reading this post and not received this email yet. I was on the list to receive the email yesterday.

I asked her if she has seen a lot of thefts and got the following response.

"We have rented out about 1,000 of our strollers. And, yes, we have had six of our double strollers stolen from our customers while in Disney. It is a low percentage, but unfortunately it can and did happen. Because of that, I feel it is important to let my customers know about it. "

So after looking up how much the City Mini Double Stroller costs, DH and I decided to purchase the insurance. It is much cheaper than buying a new stroller $400.

 

[Chuck S]

I realize that if you are one of the 6 families affected, it would be worth it, but another way to look at it is that there is a less than a 1% chance you would be one of those affected.